One Brave Heart: The Geoff Fisher Story

By Eve Creed

This biography is a record of Geoff's life, written for the benefit of family and friends, and for those who love a story about a strong, creative

character who has overcome adversity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linellen Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781922727527

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The Geoff Fisher Story

Eve Creed

Copyright © 2022 Eve Creed

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-1-922727-52-7

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Linellen Press

265 Boomerang Road

Oldbury, Western Australia

www.linellenpress.com.au

Dedication

This biography/memoir has only been possible due to the good-humoured, generous and candid collaboration between Geoff, wife Toni, sister Robyn, and sister-in-law /author Eve.

Geoff’s story is primarily dedicated to his children, Emma, Brendan, Jasmine, Ashley, and his grandchildren Charlie, Max, Forrest, and any who may be born in the future. It is also dedicated to Geoff’s sisters, Janis and Robyn, and extended family members who would like to know more about his personal history.

He believes all his good friends deserve recognition, but special dedication is reserved for friend Robert Larbalestier – for a friendship that Geoff will always hold very dear.

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Acknowledgement

Heartfelt thanks to Geoff’s Mardon-family cousin, Maxine Tapper (nee Williams) for sharing her precious collection of family photographs and helpful information related to them.

Geoff also acknowledges those who gave him nature and nurture – his parents, Henry Fisher and Jessie Fisher (nee Mardon), with all their siblings and parents before them.

Contents

The Geoff Fisher Story

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One

First Meeting

Chapter Two

Beginnings

Chapter Three

My father’s background

Chapter Four

Boulder home

Chapter Five

My mother’s background

Chapter Six

First Collie home

Chapter Seven

Second Collie home

Chapter Eight

My coal mining town

Chapter Nine

Self-Sufficiency

Chapter Ten

Fisher food

Chapter Eleven

Swimming: Part one

Swimming: Part two

Chapter Twelve

Bikes

Chapter Thirteen

My primary school years

Chapter Fourteen

My high school years

Chapter Fifteen

High school ups and downs

Chapter Sixteen

More about Henry

Chapter Seventeen

More about Jessie

Chapter Eighteen

A bit about siblings

Chapter Nineteen

Moving on

Chapter Twenty

Freelancing

Chapter Twenty One

More of Adelaide and Alice - and Therese

Chapter Twenty Two

Back to Perth

Chapter Twenty Three

Partnerships, Pools and Waters Beyond

Chapter Twenty Four

Men in Lycra

Chapter Twenty Five

Destiny

Chapter Twenty Six

The wedding – and family

Chapter Twenty Seven

Revisiting Collie

Chapter Twenty Eight

Studio changes

Chapter Twenty Nine

A scare at home

Chapter Thirty

Medical relationships

Chapter Thirty One

Optimism

Chapter Thirty Two

The joy of travel

Chapter Thirty Three

Life at home

Chapter Thirty Four

Fitness, friends, and more …

Chapter Thirty Five

An unforgettable event

Chapter Thirty Six

Cardiac Unit

Chapter Thirty Seven

Legs

Chapter Thirty Eight

Neurological Ward

Chapter Thirty Nine

Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital

Chapter Forty

Let there be light

Chapter Forty One

Studio concerns

Chapter Forty Two

Being a survivor

Chapter Forty Three

Ablations

Chapter Forty Four

Fiona Stanley Hospital

Chapter Forty Five

On the list

Chapter Forty Six

And there was more

Chapter Forty Seven

A most momentous day!

Chapter Forty Eight

Meanwhile in ICU

Chapter Forty Nine

The good and the bad of post-op

Chapter Fifty

Joy

Chapter Fifty One

Reflections

Chapter Fifty Two

Donate Life and donors

Chapter Fifty Three

Music’s in the heart

Chapter Fifty Four

Life post-transplant

Chapter Fifty Five

A message to my children and grandchildren

Chapter Fifty Six

Covid 19 and more reflection

A few extra family pics

Some of Geoff’s arty photos

Venice

NOT THE END!

Introduction

This story is about my brother-in-law, Geoff Fisher. He represents many Australian men in many ways, but he is also unique. I have witnessed his free spirit driving him to reach his goals, pushing through life’s obstacles and rising above them to create positive life experiences. The purpose of this biography is to attempt to communicate the essence of this man and some of his life journey.

My introduction is quite lengthy because Geoff is one of earth’s complex characters, but I have come to understand him well over time and have a desire to share this with others.

As a novice biographer, I am also interested in how an individual’s history impacts his or her life, lived within a cultural framework in ways that often cannot be fully understood by other generations or other cultures. Yet, it is extremely important to consider how our personalities, talents and interests are affected by our shared ancestral DNA. Research into Geoff’s family background has helped build more understanding of Geoff’s nature/nurture influences during his growing years. Unfortunately, research into his parents’ and grandparents’ backgrounds have hit some genealogical ‘brick walls’, leaving many questions unanswered.

Biographies are important because younger generations frequently do not think to ask their parents, grandparents or other relatives many deep, searching questions about their lives. In addition, ‘children’ of any age tend to view their parent only as a parent, unaware of his or her range of complex experiences from birth through to adult years, particularly before he or she became a parent. It is often not until a parent or relative dies that we realise how little we have known about that person’s character and history, as well as about their forebears. Of course, this can apply in any relationship. In some cases, few records have ever been created or have been lost, and then it is often too late to learn.

Geoff is an Aussie man, an individual who does not seek to satisfy the expectations of others. He is ‘his own person’ and lives by his own standards, desires and needs. At odd times, he may express this characteristic somewhat selfishly. Yet, he is also open to receiving criticism. When such criticism seems justified, after considering the reasons given and fairness involved, he adjusts his behaviour to meet the needs of others accordingly – otherwise, he does not. Sometimes he quietly assesses his own behaviour and addresses his fault. He generally respects someone who speaks their mind, even if not in his immediate favour, given that they are not abusive, uncaring or simply power-seeking.

Regardless, he loves and cares for those who have been and are presently close to him. He also creates opportunities to get to know others in his environment with a strong sense of being in a community of other individuals – rather than in a tribal mass. He is not interested in decorating himself with designer label clothes or tattoos, swearing, or other ‘tribal’ things, but he does enjoy being in sporting teams and sharing in creative groups. He regards and treats women with equal respect and affection as men. He is not afraid of rejection, believing it is always worth trying to develop relationships even if others are initially reserved or resistant, and then it is up to them to respond. There is no limit to his friendships, as he is so gregarious. He prefers to see the best in others, unless and until they prove otherwise – and usually more than once.

Because of his own positive attitude, at times he can become frustrated, impatient and critical of others who express negativity or have a ‘can’t do’ attitude. However, if it is within his power, he is eager and willing to show or explain how something can be done, or at least investigated. One of his mottos could be, ‘If you don’t try, you’ll never know!’ This behaviour can appear patronising, or dismissive of the other’s feelings in the moment. Geoff competes mainly with himself, except in team sports and for fun.

Those who know Geoff, also know that he is idiosyncratic and contradictory. He is very curious and creative, with a good dose of rebellion and stubborn independence. He acts with a high degree of spontaneity and impulsivity. He has a sharp, quick, and often distracted mind – sometimes known as a ‘monkey mind’ – which can cause some tasks to be delayed or forgotten, yet can lead to amazing, fresh ideas and experiences. (The process can also drive others temporarily crazy!) Admittedly at times, some very specific, positive experiences are completely forgotten or diminished in his memory, but equally, some very bad experiences are completely forgotten or diminished in his memory … his mind has simply moved on with other ‘forward’ things in life! Nevertheless, he never forgets people who have shared his life, crossed his path or have been important to him in some way. People matter to him in all areas of his life, and he is happiest when interacting and sharing with others. His pets have mattered greatly too.

Geoff actively learns by ‘doing’, but he frequently appears to have learned intellectually by ‘osmosis’. Quietly listening and observing all kinds of facts and details, he learns about surprisingly diverse things that are interesting or meaningful to him.

A clever, irrepressible sense of humour regularly intersperses his interactions, unless he is feeling particularly stressed or, on occasion, depressed. At times, he combines his humour with intriguing knowledge expressed in innovative language, in surprising statements such as, I see life through my vitreous humour! Of course, there’s always a meaningful link in his mind, an ‘out of left field’ vision, not always obvious to others in the moment.

Yet there’s more to tell. Geoff’s story evolves to reveal his greatest challenge, proving more of his resilient character. He is a man with a huge spiritual heart. He is worth knowing and his life is worth knowing about.

Geoff’s biography has been created through a series of face-to-face interviews. During all interviews he has been willing, generous and open about difficult and painful events, while also sharing a wealth of amusing, and rewarding experiences. His wife and sister have also contributed greatly, as essential characters in his story, so much is revealed of them too – fortunately they are natural oral story-tellers in their own right. Geoff’s story naturally involves much of his Fisher family, but it is also interwoven with my family. As the interviewer, collator and writer motivated to create this project, I have some inevitable bias and input. We recognise that experience and memories all come from a different perspective. Nevertheless, in our collaborative effort, we have all done our best to relate events honestly, checking facts and memories wherever possible within our limited time frame and recall.

We have included many photographs, some in their authentic ‘untidy’ condition, as vital windows into aspects of Geoff’s life – and the past – even before his birth. Thank goodness for precious photographs!

Already, Geoff has noted that there are more valued experiences and characters he has not been able to include. Geoff’s memories seem to constantly bubble up from a rich, bottomless well of life, but we have had to limit interviews and anecdotes in order to reach a point of writing completion.

Chapter One

First Meeting

I am writing about a man whom I had serious misgivings on our first meeting, in spite of his impressive appearance. I met him when he was feeling angry and upset.

This man is Geoffrey James Fisher. He presented himself at his close friend-and-colleague Ric (Richard) Syme’s family home, on Christmas Day, 25th December 1982. My sister Toni and I, and our mother Anne, were already there. I had at one time been married to Ric’s brother, and for various reasons our two families were able to come together for the Christmas affair – a rare event!

While we were all communing and imbibing happily, Geoff appeared at the front door – standing tall in stature, slim, well dressed, clean shaven, very handsome. Yet, he also stood at the threshold with a heavy, sombre expression. I thought his face ‘looked like thunder’ and was not thrilled to meet him. At the same time, Toni and Mum (Anne) were immediately captivated.

An already jovial, celebratory mood, enhanced by the seeming limitless flow of champagne, allowed a different vision for them, but it did not greatly alter my own view. We three – Toni, Anne and I – were enjoying our cigarettes in fashionable tar-guard cigarette holders, considered the responsible, healthy option at the time, and we felt quite sophisticated. So … Geoff entered Ric’s large, open lounge room, with everyone already revelling in the bubbly joy of Christmas, cigarette smoke floating and swirling upward and around us all. Animated, excited chatter filled the expansive room.

Moments before Geoff arrived, Ric had briefly informed us that he had invited his friend to join us. He told us that Geoff was unable to spend the day with his little children in their family home because his recent ex-wife wanted it that way. Geoff responded positively to Ric’s invitation, needing friendship that day. Well, he certainly found that, and more! None of us could have imagined the consequences of that meeting as he stepped over the threshold. Nor could any of us, seeing this embodiment of fitness, strength and vitality, have imagined the challenge he would face much later in life.

Before resuming the story about points at which our lives came together and were shared, it is essential to learn about Geoff’s origins and earlier life to get to know him well.

Chapter Two

Beginnings

Right, well, I was born in Kalgoorlie Hospital on the 3rd of August, 1947. But before that great event, my mother fell off her bike when she was heavily pregnant with me, and I say that accounts for a lot of things!

Our interview had begun before I had time to turn on my recorder, or to get my notepad ready. This is how most of our interviews began, and I laughed every time.

Geoff was born in Kalgoorlie Hospital because his father, John Henry Fisher, worked in the Kalgoorlie/Boulder shire as a gold miner at the time, and lived in Boulder. He always used the name ‘Henry’, rather than John. In 1939, twenty-nine-year-old Henry married twenty-one-year-old Jessie Edith Mardon. Jessie’s family lived in Cue in the Goldfields at this time.

Phillips family home with young Daisy - far right. 

Day Dawn (now a ghost town) near Cue in W.A., early 1900s

Chapter Three

My father’s background

My father, Henry, came to Australia from England, basically as child-labour, in his teens. He later worked on farms around Esperance and Scaddan and places like that in Western Australia. Then he went mining in Kalgoorlie, then Collie.

Henry was born ‘John Henry Fisher’ on 27th August 1910 in County Durham, in the north-east of England. We know that he left Durham in November 1927, having recently turned seventeen, as he set sail alone from London for the Western Australian port of Fremantle on the P&O Line steamship S.S. Bendigo. Henry identified himself as a garden boy on the British passenger embarkation list. The ship typically sailed from London, around the Cape of Good Hope, over great expanses of precarious waters and onward to Australia. The journey took the usual month to complete.

The setting from which Henry emigrated is important to understand. In Britain’s post-World War I in the 1920s and 1930s, there was a steady decline in its previous economic strength, as it fell into depression, unemployment, deflation and poverty. County Durham had around 200 coal mines, many of which had to close with severe cuts to miners’ wages or complete loss of work. Strikes and protests were common. Henry’s father was a coal miner, so all of their futures were likely to be uncertain. In the First World War, Australia lost many men, so during the 1920s and 1930s, its workforce was still severely depleted. At this time, Australia had some of its own serious post-war economic problems, but it was also expanding with opportunities in the countryside, needing to develop and farm vast areas of virgin land.

These conditions brought about a scheme, arranged between the British and Australian governments to emigrate children and youths to different parts of Australia in order to work the land. Many different organisations in Australian States ran separate programs to administer the overall scheme. Young newcomers’ ship transport was sponsored in various ways, with some having to repay travel costs over time to their program sponsors.

Within these programs, various forms and quality of supervised care and training in agricultural farm schools were provided, promising to educate and lead them into employment. Younger children were managed by different organisations to those managing youths in the sixteen to twenty-year-old age group.

With very few work prospects in England and greater opportunities on the horizon, Henry took his chance. No doubt it was hard for his parents and younger brother Joseph to say goodbye. Later, on 19th February 1929 at only sixteen years of age, Joseph followed Henry out to Australia on the Ormond. On the British passenger embarkation list, Joe identified himself as a dairy farmer. He also travelled alone, except for the many other young men on board seeking a similar new life.

Because of his young age, like his older brother Henry, it is likely that ‘Joe’ came here under a similar farm school scheme. He met up and worked with Henry at various points in time, but exactly where, when and how are unclear.

The present Fisher family do not know the specific program in which Henry participated, so do not know where his life started in WA. Efforts to find information through early training records in WA have come to nought. Henry simply told Geoff – resentfully – and more than once, ‘We were just slave labour!’ However, he told his youngest daughter, Robyn, a few times that he had been a stowaway on the ship at the age of fifteen. That seems to have been an entertaining ‘red herring’, of sorts. Official ship arrival records prove that Henry was seventeen. About his early arrival and consequent experiences, Henry kept his cards very close to his chest.

Henry arrived in Fremantle on 31st December, 1927. It was New Years’ Eve. He was about to start a completely new life in a new country in a new year. We may wonder if he held serious regrets as he landed at Fremantle Port to a very foreign landscape, without family or old friends. Yet, we may also wonder if, as a male youth, he held great expectations with a positive desire to better his prospects and a strong sense of adventure.

Henry Fisher - after arrival in Australia, 17 years old (?)

Brothers Joe and Henry (L to R) with dog on railway cart (c. 1929-1932)

Likely in Scaddan/ Esperance area in WA.

Young Henry Fisher working the land, with dog  c.1929 – 32

Written on back of photo above

Chapter Four

Boulder home

In 1939, when Henry married Jessie Mardon, they made their